David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
I finally finished watching Peter's superb interview of David Berlinski (Claire should be proud). Among other things, I was taken by David's last comment. In response to Peter's question about what college students should do to begin the sincere examination of their beliefs, he said they should read the Old Testament (I would add the New Testament to the list).
But do many people read it anymore? Totally aside from its religious significance, it is the greatest historical artifact in our possession, it is the source of the first principles upon which the Judeo-Christian civilization is based, and it is a literary masterpiece (for me, the book of Ecclesiastes is simply sublime).
Whether a person is religious or not, I believe that the starting point for the cultural education of anyone who cares about Western civilization is the Bible. Thoughts?
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Aug '11
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Quick thoughts -- which I'm sure I'll refine later. I think you are precisely correct in your last statement. It is nearly impossible to understand Western civilization without a functional understanding of one of its foundational texts -- perhaps the foundational text. As this and subsequent generations become more Biblically illiterate (as I believe is happening), they also disconnect themselves from their own history. How does one even begin to understand the foundation of the United States without understanding the role of religion -- specifically the Christian religion.
So many of the greatest books of Western civilization -- those which carry wisdom from the past onward into the future and remain relevant -- presume at least a working knowledge of scripture, even if for no other reason than because an author may employ allusions and metaphors that depend on Biblical knowledge. Remove that, and so many great writings lose their power and relevance.
EDIT: Also, the poetry section of the OT, Job through Ecclesiastes, are my favorite Old Testament books, precisely because they are so human.
Edited on Sep 14, 2011 at 4:38pmOct '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
It would be mystifying as to how an "educated" person could possibly not read, or at least be conversant with, the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, unless, of course, you take seriously the Biblical references to the conflict between God and satan. The conflict forces men to decide who to take seriously, and to whom they will give their allegiance.
Once you accept the metaphysical nature of the universe created by God and described in the Scriptures, then the rest follows.
Jan '11
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
If you're trying to accumulate the staples of our culture, you can also read Aristotle, Plato, and others. But reading the Bible as it was written, as a story, adds an extra dimension. The Bible is a narrative of God working through flesh and blood human beings, with all our limitations, and how God overcomes even those. That living humanity, and how God revels in it, is a key part of the story.
I urge people to read the Bible, but not just in short selections that they get in church. It pays to read the books as books ... as stories with real people.
For instance, reading the Gospel of Mark shows Jesus as a much more energetic leader. If you read Mark as a book, Jesus is active. He's not tossing off bon mots at dinner parties. He's on a mission: he's mobile, agile, and he's got work to do. Jesus was a teacher in the sense of a campaigner. He had a message, and he was bringing it.
Unlike Greek philosophy (which I love, differently) the Bible is a living, breathing story - and that vitality shouldn't be forgotten.
Dec '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
The charter high school in which we're trying to enroll my 8th grader next year teaches the Bible as literature. When I visited it last week, every kid in the literature class had a Holy Bible on his desk... in a public school!!! I agree with your proposition about Biblical literacy and Western civ, but I'm even more heartened that some public schools do too! There is hope.
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
May I take this a notch further? Kids--high school and college students--ought not only to read the Bible. They ought to read the King James Bible, placing themselves in touch with the foundation of English literature and prose for the past three centuries.
Anybody with me on that one?
Oct '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
If you're going to encourage them to read the bible make sure they know beforehand to skip Numbers (at the very least the first four chapters), or they'll fall asleep and become very disillusioned.
Edited on Sep 14, 2011 at 7:27pmJun '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Obviously, the PC vigilantes haven't heard about this outrage.
More seriously, there is a perfectly good case for teaching the "Bible as literature" (or the Bible as historical artifact) in public schools. Likewise, the history of religions. Would that more would teach these subjects.
Stephen Prothero wrote an excellent book, Religious Literacy, a few years ago that makes a compelling argument for teaching about religion in schools in a constitutional manner. It's excellent.
Jun '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Peter Robinson: May I take this a notch further? Kids--high school and college students--ought not only to read the Bible. They ought to read the King James Bible, placing themselves in touch with the foundation of English literature and prose for the past three centuries.
Anybody with me on that one? · Sep 14 at 7:22pm
Totally agree. When you think that the King James Bible was the product of teams of translators it is miraculous how beautiful the prose is from beginning to end.
Robert McKay: If you're going to encourage them to read the bible make sure they know beforehand to skip Numbers (at the very least the first four chapters), or they'll fall asleep and become very disillusioned. · Sep 14 at 7:25pm
Edited on Sep 14 at 07:27 pm
I must admit that all the details on how to sacrifice an ox get a bit long and tedious. A little judicious skimming is very helpful on occasion. But, then, there are passages in Faulkner (especially from Absalom Absalom) that I'm convinced no human being has ever read closely.
Jun '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Peter Robinson: May I take this a notch further? Kids--high school and college students--ought not only to read the Bible. They ought to read the King James Bible, placing themselves in touch with the foundation of English literature and prose for the past three centuries.
Anybody with me on that one? · Sep 14 at 7:22pm
Absolutely! especially if you toss in some Billy. As in Shakespeare:
Blessed, blessed night, I am afeared,
Being in night, all this is but a dream
Too flattering sweet to be substantial.
Or if prose is more your speed:
What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet to me what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.
The twin foundations of the English language: The King James version of the bible and William Shakespeare.
Edited on Sep 14, 2011 at 7:51pmJun '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
I almost forgo this is a speech writing crowd:
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip‑toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To‑morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'…
We few we happy few, we band of brothers…
In a millennium we have only produced these miracles once.
Edited on Sep 14, 2011 at 7:58pmDec '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
tabula rasa
Obviously, the PC vigilantes haven't heard about this outrage.
More seriously, there is a perfectly good case for teaching the "Bible as literature" (or the Bible as historical artifact) in public schools. Likewise, the history of religions. Would that more would teach these subjects.
Stephen Prothero wrote an excellent book, Religious Literacy, a few years ago that makes a compelling argument for teaching about religion in schools in a constitutional manner. It's excellent. · Sep 14 at 7:29pm
You have no idea how outrageous this school is! There were two Muslim students enrolled last year who were expected to learn Biblical stories in literature class, just like the rest of the students. It's some kind of miracle.
Apr '11
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
My son is in 6th grade at a Catholic School and is currently reading a big chunk of the old testament. We read together each night and I am usually amazed with the wisdom and beauty. I have not read much of the bible since college. Church does not count, since they pick the best passages. I am also amazed at how interesting at how much my son enjoys it. Working on Joshua right now.
Dec '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
tabula rasa
Robert McKay: If you're going to encourage them to read the bible make sure they know beforehand to skip Numbers (at the very least the first four chapters), or they'll fall asleep and become very disillusioned.
I must admit that all the details on how to sacrifice an ox get a bit long and tedious. A little judicious skimming is very helpful on occasion. But, then, there are passages in Faulkner (especially from Absalom Absalom) that I'm convinced no human being has ever read closely.
For history's sake, I think ox sacrifice is important to understand, and in fact it will be more difficult to understand Jesus without it. Listening to a sermon by the great post-modern Christian Rob Bell this week I was horrified to hear him described animal sacrifice as something a group of people used to do because that's merely what "they thought" atoned for their sin, then go on to speak of the atoning work of Christ as primary to our relationship with God. It's the worst of signs when ministers try to contextualize away the meaning of scripture from the pulpit.
Dec '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Peter Robinson: May I take this a notch further? Kids--high school and college students--ought not only to read the Bible. They ought to read the King James Bible, placing themselves in touch with the foundation of English literature and prose for the past three centuries.
Anybody with me on that one? · Sep 14 at 7:22pm
Absolutely with you on that. As an octogenarian fisherman in Maritime Canada once said to me--"Everyone should read the King James Bible. The actual words God spoke!"
Jun '11
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Peter Robinson: May I take this a notch further? Kids--high school and college students--ought not only to read the Bible. They ought to read the King James Bible, placing themselves in touch with the foundation of English literature and prose for the past three centuries.
Anybody with me on that one? · Sep 14 at 7:22pm
Plus one more step - they should often read the King James aloud.
Jul '11
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
You gave me goose bumps.
Cas Balicki: I almost forgo this is a speech writing crowd:
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip‑toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To‑morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'…
We few we happy few, we band of brothers…
In a millennium we have only produced these miracles once. · Sep 14 at 7:57pm
Edited on Sep 14 at 07:58 pm
I 4th (is that where we are now?) Peter's recommendation of focusing on the KJ translation.
-E
Edited on Sep 15, 2011 at 7:19amJul '11
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Beyond merely language, the impact of the Bible on music is immeasurable. Would the musical explosion that occurred in the 17th through 19th centuries have been possible without biblical texts to inspire it? The greatest composers were never better than when creating musical settings for biblical passages (see Handel's Messiah or Brahms' Requiem). The same holds true for even modern composers, such as Morten Lauridsen and Eric Whitacre. I invite everyone here to listen to Whitacre's When David Heard (based on Samuel 18:33). It may not be as groundbreaking as Cloudburst or his songs of e e cummings poems, but it is absolutely breathtaking in its pathos and spiritual expression.
-E
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
I was raised in a Christian home by a pastor. And yet the Bible as literature course I took at university was still quite influential on me. It's not just interesting in each book but also in how it all fits together. But yes, the language, the allusions, everything -- my husband was shocked when he realized how many phrases derived from Scripture (filthy lucre, Alpha & Omega, handwriting on the wall, etc., etc., etc.).
Nov '10
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
Great thoughts and I can't improve upon them. I'll just say how unusual and refreshing it was to hear a man of his obvious intelligence and thoughtfulness give that answer to Peter's question. Wonderful.
Re: David Berlinski and Reading the Bible
All freshman at Hillsdale read selections from the Bible in Western Heritage and in Rhetoric and Great Books I.